Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Free weekend
- Way to research locations and weekend travel deals
- Map
- Small carry-on bag and clothing to fit the locale
Step1
Decide if you want to have a weekend getaway alone or with a companion, and if with a companion, who.
Step2
Decide on your timeframe (Friday through Sunday, Friday through Monday) and pick a weekend.
Step3
Decide on a budget and average it up about 15% for extraneous items.
Step4
Decide on your travel arrangements (do you want to go somewhere you can drive to, or someplace that requires a flight or train?). If you drive, keep the drive within a two-hour limit from your home. Any destination further than that and you start to cut significantly into your weekend. Also, if you fly, try to fly on a Friday morning or early afternoon and return on an early flight on Monday morning. You avoid the largest number of crowds and traffic that way.
Step5
Sign up for saver fares on the airline websites. They send out weekly updates on last-minute fares both domestic and international. Also, sign up for car rental discounts and if you are a AAA member, look for any hotel/car/restaurant/tourist attraction deals.
Step6
Decide on a location.
Step7
Decide on any special activities you’d like to do while away (like massages, golf, a sporting event, a dinner at a 5-star restaurant) and book them.
Step8
Contact the hotel where you will be staying (if you are staying in a hotel) and speak to the concierge (or front desk, if there is no concierge) to find out about upcoming events in the area and any suggestions of things to do and places to go. They can also often help you with restaurant and spa reservations, and transportation questions.
Novice 
